Alstroemeria plant named ‘Teshunte’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Teshunte’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; medium to long flowering stems; sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit; numerous red orange and yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TESHUNTE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Teshunte’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new potted garden Alstroemeria plants that flower continuously and with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesronto’, not patented. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Tesronto’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in June, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by root divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since September, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Teshunte’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Teshunte’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit; medium to long flowering stems.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Numerous red orange and yellow-colored flowers.     -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the mutation parent, ‘Tesronto’. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of ‘Tesronto’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Tesronto’ differ in leaf         color.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Tesronto’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Tesronto’ differ in         flower color.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Tesvoya’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of ‘Tesvoya’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are shorter than plants of         ‘Tesvoya’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller leaves than         plants of ‘Tesvoya’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria have smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Tesvoya’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Teshunte’ grown in a ground bed in an outdoor nursery during the summer in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were 20 weeks old when the photograph was taken.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the autumn in 25-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 17° C. Plants were 20 weeks old when the description was taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Teshunte’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Alstroemeria     hybrida ‘Tesronto’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight             weeks at temperatures about 16° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and fleshy; thick to thin; white             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Rhizome length.—About 3 cm.         -   Rhizome diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Rhizome texture.—Smooth.         -   Rhizome color.—Close to 195B. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly             upright plant habit with medium to long flowering stems,             inverted triangle; freely branching habit with about 25             primary lateral branches developing per plant; sturdy and             strong plants; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 83.6 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 79.1 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Length.—About 53.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; waxy.         -   Color.—Close to 200C finely dotted with close to 144A to             144C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; simple.         -   Length.—About 8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic; twisting.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Surface faces             downwards; close to 137B strongly tinged with close to 200C;             margins, close to 144A to 144B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Surface faces upwards; close to 137B strongly             tinged with close to 200C; margins, between 143B and 144A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Surface faces             downwards; close to N137C; margins, between 143A and 144A;             venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Surface faces upwards; close to N137C; margins,             between 143A and 144A; venation, close to 147A to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm by             6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged             in terminal umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly to             slightly upright; perianth segments separate; freely             flowering habit with about 13 flowers developing per             inflorescence and about 325 flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about eight             weeks after planting; flowering continuous from summer into             the autumn in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Narrowly obovate. Color: Close to 145C; towards the             apex, close to 174A; venation, close to N137A.         -   Umbel height.—About 10.8 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 14.6 cm.         -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 4.4 cm.         -   Flower length (vertical).—About 5.4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.9 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.7 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.7 cm. Length, median segment:             About 4.3 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.6 cm. Size,             outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.8 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.5 cm. Length, median             segment: About 4.6 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.4 cm.             Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median             segments: Abruptly acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and             median segments: Emarginate. Base, inner perianth, lateral             and median segments: Narrowly cuneate. Base, outer perianth,             lateral and median segments: Long cuneate. Margin, inner             perianth, lateral and median segments: Entire. Margin, outer             perianth, lateral and median segments: Towards the apex,             finely serrate; towards the base, entire. Texture, inner and             outer perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly velvety. Color, inner perianth: When             opening, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 3B;             towards the apex, close to 4C; spots, close to 200A to 200B.             When opening, median segment, upper surface: Between 3D and             4C; spots, close to 178A. When opening, lateral segments,             lower surface: Close to 4A; towards the apex and margins,             close to 5D; small apical spot, close to 32D; spots, close             to 200C to 200D. When opening, median segment, lower             surface: Close to 5D; spots, close to 200C to 200D. Fully             opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 9A;             towards the apex, close to 9C; spots, close to 203A to 203B;             color does not fade with development. Fully opened, median             segment, upper surface: Close to 10A, towards the apex,             close to 11D; spots, close to 178A; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface:             Close to 8C; towards the apex, close to 11D; apical spot,             close to 32C to 32D; spots, close to 200C to 200D. Fully             opened, median segment, lower surface: Close to 5D; spots,             close to 200C to 200D. Color, outer perianth: When opening,             lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close to 11A;             towards the base, close to 198C; towards the apex, close to             198A to 198B; central spot, close to N34D. When opening,             lateral and median segments, lower surface: Between 10C and             11D; towards the apex, close to 197A; central spot, close to             35A to 35B; venation, close to 144A to 144B. Fully opened,             lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 13B to 13C;             towards the apex, close to 194B to 194C; base, tinged with             close to 31D; margins, striped with close to N34D; central             spot, close to N34D; color does not fade with development.             Fully opened, median segments, upper surface: Close to 13A;             towards the apex, close to 195A; base, tinged with close to             31D; margins, striped with close to N34D; central band,             close to 195B; central spot, close to N34D; color does not             fade with development. Fully opened, lateral and median             segments, lower surface: Close to 16C to 16D; towards the             apex, close to 202A; base, close to 35B; margins, close to             35B; central spot, between 171A and 172A; venation, close to             14A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Angle: About 15° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to             186C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Filament length: About 3.8 cm. Filament color: Close to 179B             to 179D; towards the base, close to 150D. Anther shape:             Three are oblong and the other three are doubly reniform.             Anther length, oblong anthers: About 8 mm. Anther length,             reniform anthers: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 152B to             152C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 153D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             3.9 cm. Style length: About 3.9 cm. Style color: Close to             179B; towards the base, lighter than 179B. Stigma shape:             Tri-parted; parts, club-shaped, curved. Stigma color: Close             to 47C. Ovary color: Close to 143C tinged with between 197A             and N200B.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate high     temperatures of about 35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone     8. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Teshunte’ as illustrated and described. 